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Graduate Programs

Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar

Below you will find important dates for graduate programs at SPS. Prospective students should note the application deadlines, and current students can find quarter start dates and registration deadlines on our calendar. 

2019–20 Academic Calendar

Archived academic calendars from previous years can be found here.

 

September 2019

1

Sunday

Last day of Summer Quarter for online classes.

3

Tuesday

Summer Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.

6

Friday

August 2019 degrees awarded.

9

Monday

Deadline to submit the Intent to Register form (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) and all other special registration requests for Fall Quarter registration by 5pm.

Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.

23

Monday

Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.

24

Tuesday

Fall Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.

30

Monday

End of Fall Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.

October 2019

15

Tuesday

Application for readmission for Winter Quarter due.

Application for admission for Winter Quarter due.

November 2019

1

Friday

Last day to drop a Fall course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript)

Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a December degree.

18

Monday

Registration for Winter Quarter opens in CAESAR.

27

Wednesday

Thanksgiving break begins for all on-campus and online classes at 6:00pm (No sync sessions for online classes).

28

Thursday

Thanksgiving Day: Northwestern University closed (No sync sessions for online classes).

29

Friday

Day After Thanksgiving: Northwestern University closed (No sync sessions for online classes).

30

Saturday

Northwestern University closed (No sync sessions for online classes).

December 2019

2

Monday

All on-campus and online Fall Quarter classes resume.

6

Friday

All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a December degree.

7

Saturday

Last day of Fall Quarter for on-campus classes.

8

Sunday

Last day of Fall Quarter for online classes.

14

Saturday

Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates)

16

Monday

Fall quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.

16

Monday

Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) form and all other special registration requests for winter quarter registration by 5pm.

Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.

20

Friday

December 2019 degrees awarded.

January 2020

5

Sunday

Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.

6

Monday

Winter Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.

10

Friday

End of Winter Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.

15

Wednesday

Application for readmission for Spring Quarter due.

Application for admission for Spring Quarter due.

20

Monday

Martin Luther King Jr. Day; no classes (No sync sessions for online classes).

February 2020

7

Friday

Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a March degree.

14

Friday

Last day to drop a Winter course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript)

24

Monday

Registration for Spring Quarter opens in CAESAR.

March 2020

13

Friday

All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a March degree.

15

Sunday

Last day of Winter Quarter for online classes.

16

Monday

Last day of Winter Quarter for on-campus classes.

Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) form and all other special registration requests for Spring Quarter registration by 5pm.

Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.

21

Saturday

Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates)

23

Monday

Winter Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.

27

Friday

March 2020 degrees awarded.

April 2020

5

Sunday

Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.

6

Monday

Spring Quarter SPS on-ground and online classes begin

10

Friday

Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a June degree.

18

Saturday

End of Spring Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.

May 2020

4

Monday

Registration for Summer Quarter begins.

15

Friday

All thesis requirements and approvals must be complete for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a June degree.

25

Monday

Memorial Day; Northwestern University closes (No sync sessions for online classes).

29

Friday

Last day to request a change from default Pass/No Pass.

Last day to drop a spring course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript).

June 2020

5

Friday

Last day to drop a Spring course with academic penalty.

8

Monday

Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) form and all other special registration requests for Summer Quarter by 5pm.

Deadline to submit Graduate Change of Registration form for non-SPS (WCAS) courses.

Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.

 

13

Saturday

Last day of Spring Quarter for on-campus and online classes.

Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates)

15

Monday

Spring Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.

19

Friday

June 2020 degrees awarded.

Commencement for all Northwestern graduates and School of Professional Studies Convocation Ceremony.

21

Sunday

Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.

22

Monday

Summer Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.

26

Friday

End of Summer Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.

July 2020

3

Friday

Independence Day; Northwestern University closes (no sync sessions for online classes).

6

Monday

Registration for fall 2020 quarter opens in CAESAR.

15

Wednesday

Application for program transfer for Fall Quarter due.

Application for Readmission for Fall Quarter due.

Application for admission for Fall Quarter due.

Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive an August degree.

31

Friday

Last day to drop a summer course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript).

August 2020

14

Friday

All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive an August degree.

29

Saturday

Last day of Summer Quarter for on-campus classes and online classes (Sat. night).

 

31

Monday

Summer quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.

September 2020

4

Friday

August 2020 degrees awarded.

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